Orchid Virgin... needs help with seedlings...

[*Trouble*]

Hi All,
I'm pretty much clueless about orchids and their care. I was given one as a leaving pressie at work and somehow I haven't killed it (17 months and counting). Anyway, loved it so much I bought it a companion and haven't managed to kill that one either... yet.
I went to Thailand for Xmas and bought back 2 'bottles' of seedling orchids. The problem now is that one of the bottles is ready to pop and I've no clue how to care for the seedlings... help please.
Looking online it looks like I can buy orchid compost at B&Q. Is that the right stuff for seedlings..?

[Ross]

Trouble: Welcome! Nothing like "out of the frying pan, into the fire!" (Maybe that's an American saying? ) I have been growing orchids off-and-on for over 30 years and still haven't had the guts to try a flask (that's what the "bottles" are called.) I have nothing to offer other than a big welcome to the board.

[*Trouble*]

Thanks Ross. It seemed like such a good idea at the time... and soooooo cheap.

[cb977]

Trouble...I love the name

I agree with Ross...WOW! I found this information for you. Let us know how it goes please

What orchids are in that flask?

Deflasking orchid seedlings

[Ross]

Originally Posted by *Trouble*

Thanks Ross. It seemed like such a good idea at the time... and soooooo cheap.

Yep! And that's where the "catch" is. Cheap means you get to do what the other growers would have done - grow the seedlings to a blooming size. This is fine for a confirmed orchidholic, but a beginner?

[cb977]

I like the idea of experimenting! Never be afraid to try something new

Use the instructions in that link and you'll be the proud owner of lots of beautiful new, and tiny, plants...but just wait till they grow up!

[*Trouble*]

Thanks so much Susanne, that link sounds good.

The seedlings are: Blue Vanda (v.pornpimol + v.coerulea) and Dendrobium (Red and White).

I bought these and a friend bought two others (Cattayas). We're hoping to get enough to grow so that we can swop.

[cb977]

Wonderful choices!
Blue vandas are a majority favorite around here!

[Undergrounder]

Hi and welcome! Seedlings can be both really rewarding and equally heartbreaking. Through some fluke i've managed to happily grow a few dozen Phalaenopsis schillerianas, but out of 40 Cymbidiums i have about 10 still alive. Add to that about half of my Dends have died from one bottle but NONE have died from the other.

All i can suggest is wait until the last moment to deflask. I'm not sure if this is a good idea in general, but while they're happy and growing in the bottle they're HAPPY AND GROWING! So don't annoy them! You want them to be as big as they can be before you let them loose.

And number 2 tip is give them really high humidity and really really good air flow for quite a few months out of the flask. This is my setup, a fishtank with a fan inside on a timer. I wet the vermiculite on the bottom periodically to keep it humid. When i first started i used a propagating box which had high humidity but no air movement and as a consequence i lost heaps of orchids to mould. And if i put them out in the air, they dried up and shrivelled to a crisp. Humidity AND air movement is key.

Anyway good luck!

Some links i've collected are:

Deflasking
Easy Orchids - Deflasking Orchids
Deflasking
Deflasking
Bottle Babies
Deflask
Caring for Seedlings Removed from Flasks and A Method of Compotting in Sphagnum

[Neverend]

Next time, test before you dive into unknown waters

Do take a look at all the advice the members have given, they're really good information which will definitely help you keep the seedlings to maturity